Roof Rack for a Car

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:44 pm

Any advice about what cheap Roof Rack would make the trip from Los Angeles to Burning Man without falling off?

Post by **Sham** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:16 pm

Wow, that is so vague. What kind of stuff are you intending to put on your car? What kind of car are you driving?
Depending on the weight of your load, you can get a lighter duty roof rack at Sears or Walmart. There are heavier versions made for commercial use and you could probably find one on Craig's list if you check often. You could also check local electricians to see if they have any old racks that they'll see cheap or even give you if they like you.

I picked up a few very old racks and modified the cross bars with steel piping and it worked perfect for putting crap on the roof.
You may also consider the bag type of container for the roof for softer items up top and heavier items inside the car.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:58 am

Be sure and put 2000 pounds of stuff on your roof rack for your lightweight car. Then put your 2 spare tires on top of the load. That way when you go around a sharp corner in a 50mph crosswind, and the car rolls over, it will have tires to land on!!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:32 am

duct tape

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:38 am

[quote="Shambala"]Wow, that is so vague. What kind of stuff are you intending to put on your car? What kind of car are you driving?
Depending on the weight of your load, you can get a lighter duty roof rack at Sears or Walmart. There are heavier versions made for commercial use and you could probably find one on Craig's list if you check often. You could also check local electricians to see if they have any old racks that they'll see cheap or even give you if they like you. :lol:
I picked up a few very old racks and modified the cross bars with steel piping and it worked perfect for putting crap on the roof.
You may also consider the bag type of container for the roof for softer items up top and heavier items inside the car.[/quote]
Actually just the standard camping gear. Last time we used my friends truck. This time I'll be driving my 90" Toyota Corolla. Thanks for the tip.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:38 am

Just stick to something decent fitted to your particular car. Yakima racks, for example, have different towers and hooks for different cars. Find out what you need and look around for used parts to make a set. Do it now before people start gearing up for their Summer road trips.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:49 am

Buy a decent bike/ski rack with the right fittings for the car model, and RTFM.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:55 am

Yes, you will need Two Mexicans, some Duct tape, and a hot glue gun.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:28 am

Have you checked u-haul?? They may be able to fit you with a small trailer.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:31 am

they rent mexicans too, but a little pricey.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:39 am

Once you've found the correct rack solution, I have a suggestion- Bring a couple of 2x2s. After having discovered this concept a few years back I now do it every year...Carried lengthwise while en route you then swing them out sideways and clip/clamp/zipstrip a tarp or blanket (or some sheets of cardboard with space blankets sprayglued on!) to them for shade. I've also used cast off cardboard tubes, zipstripped together, to make car-based structures. At week's end you burn the tubes (freaking out the Earth Guardians, who think you're burning PVC pipe), and/or donate the lumber to BWB.
I drive an Element and find that having 2x2s bungeed to it (again, lengthwise) helps with carrying various loads. The crossbars are a little too close together to otherwise carry much stuff to my satisfaction. That I have to constantly look at a little cartoon of the car flipping over while driving (it's on the sun visor) makes me fairly paranoid about throwing much more than my bike and a few panels, tarps and things up there. Some of those steep highspeed turns around SLC- Yikes!

klondike_bar · Post by **klondike_bar** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:18 pm

just ask THE MULE kindly and maybe hell help.

he may be an ass, but hes got a kind heart :p

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:30 pm

Have we found a match for our sock??

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:31 am

Boijoy wrote:Have we found a match for our sock??

This what you needed Boijoy?

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:47 pm

Boijoy wrote:Have you checked u-haul?? They may be able to fit you with a small trailer.

I second this notion. Or buy your own trailer. Nice little utility trailers are readily available, even at everyday stores like Home Depot. Odds are, you will find many uses for it during the year. Carrying significant cargo on the roof of a car is Very Bad News in my book.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:07 pm

A Toyota Corolla pulling a trailer? Sheesh, rent a van.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:36 pm

Bob wrote:A Toyota Corolla pulling a trailer? Sheesh, rent a van.

I support this option as well! Anything but piling stuff on top.

There is a good reason why so many of use have a pickup or minivan as our main vehicle.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:29 pm

A single wheel trailer is best, but you usually have to have those made.
A good receiver will take a good bike rack.

I bought a plastic topper for $30 that straps on.
If you have gutters, you can use multiple clamp on bars to support a lot.

If you use a trailer, get a good light one.
Mine has a good independent suspension, with adjustable torsion bar loading that acts as an anti-sway bar.
I have pulled it with a 2000 pound roadster.
The suspension is as important as the weight.

Learn about balance in loading for any approach.
Keep the weight in the car when possible.
I used a long wheelbase approach to my trailer so the weight tends to be inside the wheels anyway.

Get good strapping and bungee cords and learn what to do with them.
The tie down nets can be handy too.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:26 pm

Hi Gyre. You say you have pulled a trailer with a 2000 pound roadster....

I suppose my Mazda Miata weighed a bit more than 2000 pounds, but probably not much more. No, I didn't go very far, but I really did tow the tricycle with the Miata.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:44 pm

I have a Miata too. I weighed it on our calibrated truck scale at work and it was 2200.
My last Miata had a receiver hitch but I never towed anything with it!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:22 pm

Kids, do not try this at home. See, even The Captain knows better.

Big car, small trailer, happy Burners.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:31 pm

Elliot wrote:
Hi Gyre. You say you have pulled a trailer with a 2000 pound roadster....

I suppose my Mazda Miata weighed a bit more than 2000 pounds, but probably not much more. No, I didn't go very far, but I really did tow the tricycle with the Miata.

That's a pretty impressive sight there.

I think by 2004, the Miata was over 2500 pounds and I don't know if that includes driver.
The one with the hitch was an early chrome bumper model.
I had an internal frame hitch on it.
I pull the trailer with a receiver hitch on the volvo now.
I even have a receiver on the hotrod bird.
I have even seen the Lotus Elise with a hitch.

Elliot wrote:
Kids, do not try this at home. See, even The Captain knows better.

So!
Are you trying to imply something?

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:53 pm

Buy a school bus (see thread below)!

(Hmm, if I don't eat for a year I should lose that excess weight my doctor wants gone and I could buy a used school bus with the money I save!

Wow, that's a "win-win" situation!)

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:17 pm

I think the receiver hitch on my old Miata was probably for a bike rack! I was amazed to find it under there. I always wanted to get one of those 1 1/4" to 2" receiver adapters for it, and then drive around with my big weight-distributing hitch from my duallie on it... just to make people wonder.

What "old chrome bumper model" are you talking about, Gyre?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:21 pm

It was an early high revving 1490 twin cam, like this but with the smooth hood.
Probably well under 2000 pounds for that model.

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:50 am

Harbor Freight has a nice little diy 4x8 foot trailer for $200-300. I was pulling it yesterday with a Hyundai Accent without a problem.

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